Infrared radiation doesn't act as a blanket in the traditional sense. Instead, it plays a crucial role in the greenhouse effect, which warms the Earth's troposphere.

Here's how it works:

1. Sunlight reaches Earth: The sun emits energy as shortwave radiation, including visible light, ultraviolet, and some infrared. When this radiation reaches Earth, it is absorbed by the surface, warming it up.

2. Earth emits infrared radiation: As the Earth's surface warms, it radiates energy back into space as longwave infrared radiation.

3. Greenhouse gases absorb infrared: Greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor) in the atmosphere trap some of this outgoing infrared radiation. They absorb the radiation and then re-emit it in all directions, including back towards the Earth's surface.

4. Trapped heat warms the troposphere: This re-emitted infrared radiation contributes to the warming of the lower atmosphere, the troposphere.

Think of it like this: Greenhouse gases act like a blanket, allowing sunlight to pass through but slowing the escape of heat. This process is essential for maintaining a habitable temperature on Earth, but an excess of greenhouse gases can lead to increased warming and climate change.

In summary: Infrared radiation isn't a blanket itself, but it plays a vital role in the greenhouse effect. It's the energy emitted by the Earth that gets trapped by greenhouse gases, causing a warming effect in the troposphere.